Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver
It was about two minutes into Bartering Lines when I realized that I made the right decision in skipping Daft Punk to see Ryan Adams’ rescheduled Vancouver show. A somewhat surprise opener to the set, Bartering Lines was reworked into a heavy, dark stomper of a song that recalled Led Zeppelin; it definitely set the tone for the evening.
The one huge advantage of the venue change (other than a more intimate venue) was that Ryan Adams decided to play a Red Cave show at the Commodore (instead of the planned acoustic Blue Cave show at the Orpheum). This meant that Ryan and the Cardinals spent a good portion of the evening extending songs into lengthy jams. Easy Plateau, Mockingbird, and Peaceful Valley, all from his 2005 releases, were the best examples of this. The Cardinals were able to keep up with Ryan who seems to set the tone for each show, deciding where each song is heading about halfway through each track.
Ryan’s last trip to Vancouver was a bit of a train wreck, and I was concerned the crowd might get to him again. But Ryan was in a great mood and kept the crowd in stitches between songs with an ongoing “story” involving Christopher Cross falling off a yacht, his wife, and Jimmy Buffett throwing ham sandwiches (at The Cross). Ryan even managed to crack himself up at one point.
Another silly moment: Ryan commented that the venue made him think that The Time should be playing the Commodore. This led to the Cardinals starting an impromptu funk jam with Ryan joining in on vocals. Throughout the entire evening Ryan and the band were smiling and laughing with/at one another…it was great to see them so comfortable with each other on stage. Unlike his last performance in Vancouver, I think Ryan actually endeared himself to most of the crowd last night.
While I enjoy comedian Ryan, it was the music that truly stood out last night. The first set featured the band in full on jam mode; during this set the crowd was treated to a pretty cool performance of the rarely performed September as well as a relatively new unreleased song Trouble on Wheels. The second set was a bit more focused but the Cardinals still managed to impress at every moment (What Sin Replaces Love for instance).
The band spent much of the night reworking songs off Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Nights (which was fine with me) and actually only played four songs off Easy Tiger. Goodnight Rose, one of my favourites off the record, was great but the real surprise was an electric version of Off Broadway. The song has never really impressed me on the album but last night’s performance was excellent. I have a whole new appreciation for that song.
The set ended with a storming version of Shakedown on 9th Street followed by one of my favourites I See Monsters. It was a perfect end to the evening and I didn’t feel the band even needed to do an encore (not that I would have minded); I can’t complain after nearly two and half hours on stage. Can’t wait to see him next month in Sydney.
Photos from the gig here.
Setlist:
Bartering Lines
Trouble on Wheels
Cold Roses
Peaceful Valley
September
Please Do Not Let Me Go
Mockingbird
——Break———
Games
Goodnight Rose
Easy Plateau
Two
What Sin Replaces Love
The End
Pearls on a String
Magnolia Mountain
Beautiful Sorta
Off Broadway
A Kiss Before I Go
Wild Flowers
Shakedown On 9th Street
I See Monsters
Download: (all from the July 21, 2007 Red Cave gig in Santa Cruz)
What Sin Replaces Love
Bartering Lines
Trouble on Wheels
And that Daft Punk show I had to skip? Quinn’s thoughts. Rob’s thoughts.
July 31st, 2007 09:29
Oh thanks for setlist, now I will be able to tell which album(s) to get
July 31st, 2007 12:59
if he had played “Dear Chicago” or “Call Me On Your Way Back Home” I would have cried right here.
July 31st, 2007 18:22
well then you lucked out….he’s played Dear Chicago a LOT on this tour so far. but not here.
July 31st, 2007 19:21
upon further inspection, I am a bit sad that I missed “Please Do Not Let Me Go” and “I See Monsters”
I got a new appreciation for the former when he actually sounded amazing on it at that shit-show train-wreck last time he was here
July 31st, 2007 20:44
This has me super-psyched for his Sydney shows in August!
August 1st, 2007 01:56
I had the same reaction part way into ‘Bartering Lines’ – I turned to my wife, smiled and said, “this is going to be a great show.”
Aside from a couple of guitar-noodling sessions that dragged on too long – the music was tight, and the guys were relaxed… almost joyful – how odd for an RATC show. Maybe that extra day off helped out.
I’m with you re: ‘Off Broadway’ – can’t stand the recorded version and was blown away by the performance.
Another highlight was Ryan telling a girl in the crowd she “looked just like Commissioner Gordon’s daughter” – funny…
August 1st, 2007 17:24
This was the first time seeing Ryan live and I was very impressed with his performance at the Commodore. I loved his bantering of Christopher Cross and Jimmy Buffet and how he all of a sudden started playing “Two.” Also, loved the super heros resting on his amps in the back.
Completely shows his character.
Thanks for posting the set list from the Vancouver show.
August 5th, 2007 19:25
I thought that show was absolutely mind blowing! Are there any recordings floating around anywhere? I’d kill to get my hands on it.
February 7th, 2009 07:34
been rocking this show lately & can’t BELIEVE it doesn’t get more props!!! epic night of tunes & vibes from the cardinals. BIG FUN*
here’s a link to the show:
http://www.archive.org/details/radams2007-07-29.sbd.flac16